A force multiplier for female military veterans

Professionals Assisting Military, Family, and Friends, a local nonprofit organization, met last week to discuss their female military veterans retreat in September, with military consultant Georgie Alfano leading the discussion.

Facts

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The retreat will be the first of its kind in Southwest Florida, organizers say, and the planning committee's military consultant Georgie Alfano hopes that it will not be the last.

Co-organized by the Sarasota County Veteran's Commission and nonprofit Professionals Assisting Military, Family, and Friends, the event will be a community effort.

Alfano first noticed a discrepancy in the way male and female veterans were treated when she began bringing her long-time boyfriend to events.

“People would shake his hand and not mine,” Alfano said with disbelief. “At first, I didn't say a word, but after too many times, I would tell them, 'I'm the veteran, he never served.' ”

Chosen as the 2010 female veteran of the year and now serving as chairwoman of the Female Veteran Committee — a segment of the commission — Alfano saw a portion of veterans she felt could be better reached.

Women can often be overshadowed by men in the veteran community, said Andy Hooker, president of the Sarasota County Veteran's Commission.

“I find that a lot of the female veterans I run into — they're not as vocal as the male veterans,” Hooker said. “Part of that is they haven't gotten acknowledgment the way our male veterans have.”

After attending a female military veterans retreat in Tampa, Alfano was left inspired but hoping to do more.

While participants were able to share their stories at the event, their departure had them scattered across Florida and unable to come together for continued discussions.

Alfano said she brought PAMMF in for just this reason: to supply continued counseling after the retreat ends.

“At the retreat, the female veterans will get to know us and we will get to know them,” PAMMF cofounder Sheila Weiser said. “In four days, you're not going to cure everything.”

'Change - you can'

The retreat will be held in Bradenton from Sept. 16 to Sept. 19, with a theme entitled “Change — You Can” and a variety of sessions focused on settling back into life as a veteran.

Weiser said the sessions will range from topics such as online dating to relaxation to “what to do to survive.”

Of the retreat planning committee's 14 members, only three are female veterans, including Alfano, but many have a background in psychology and therapy.

As a licensed mental health counselor, Weiser hopes to use her knowledge to help the veterans.

There are already veterans on board. Many participants have signed up, but the group is always looking for more.

“I want to encourage as many to attend as possible,” Alfano said.

She said she hopes it will serve as an opportunity for veterans to open up and express some of their concerns.

“When a veteran is in crisis, they need to talk immediately,” Alfano said.

Veteran's scars are not always visible, Alfano said, but they are still very real.

“If you don't have a prosthetic leg or something they can see, they forget about the silent wounds,” Alfano said.

The committee is looking for sponsors to provide for the cost of the 4 day/3 night retreat, which would make the experience free for all participants to attend.

But the retreat is far from finished. The planning group will meet a number of times before September retreat plans are solidified.

“With 14 members, so much of the work has to be done by a few of us, but we're making progress,” Weiser said.

It looks like their work will pay off: the retreat has not gone unnoticed by the veteran community.

“It's a good thing, anything we can do for the lady veterans,” Hooker said. “The retreat is a long time coming.”

<p>Local female military veterans will find a venue to air their concerns in September at a retreat geared specifically to their needs.</p><p>The retreat will be the first of its kind in Southwest Florida, organizers say, and the planning committee's military consultant Georgie Alfano hopes that it will not be the last.</p><p>Co-organized by the Sarasota County Veteran's Commission and nonprofit Professionals Assisting Military, Family, and Friends, the event will be a community effort. </p><p>Alfano first noticed a discrepancy in the way male and female veterans were treated when she began bringing her long-time boyfriend to events. </p><p>“People would shake his hand and not mine,” Alfano said with disbelief. “At first, I didn't say a word, but after too many times, I would tell them, 'I'm the veteran, he never served.' ” </p><p>Chosen as the 2010 female veteran of the year and now serving as chairwoman of the Female Veteran Committee — a segment of the commission — Alfano saw a portion of veterans she felt could be better reached.</p><p>Women can often be overshadowed by men in the veteran community, said Andy Hooker, president of the Sarasota County Veteran's Commission. </p><p>“I find that a lot of the female veterans I run into — they're not as vocal as the male veterans,” Hooker said. “Part of that is they haven't gotten acknowledgment the way our male veterans have.”</p><p>After attending a female military veterans retreat in Tampa, Alfano was left inspired but hoping to do more.</p><p>While participants were able to share their stories at the event, their departure had them scattered across Florida and unable to come together for continued discussions. </p><p>Alfano said she brought PAMMF in for just this reason: to supply continued counseling after the retreat ends.</p><p>“At the retreat, the female veterans will get to know us and we will get to know them,” PAMMF cofounder Sheila Weiser said. “In four days, you're not going to cure everything.”</p><p><b>'Change - you can'</b></p><p>The retreat will be held in Bradenton from Sept. 16 to Sept. 19, with a theme entitled “Change — You Can” and a variety of sessions focused on settling back into life as a veteran.</p><p>Weiser said the sessions will range from topics such as online dating to relaxation to “what to do to survive.”</p><p>Of the retreat planning committee's 14 members, only three are female veterans, including Alfano, but many have a background in psychology and therapy.</p><p>As a licensed mental health counselor, Weiser hopes to use her knowledge to help the veterans. </p><p>There are already veterans on board. Many participants have signed up, but the group is always looking for more.</p><p>“I want to encourage as many to attend as possible,” Alfano said. </p><p>She said she hopes it will serve as an opportunity for veterans to open up and express some of their concerns.</p><p>“When a veteran is in crisis, they need to talk immediately,” Alfano said. </p><p>Veteran's scars are not always visible, Alfano said, but they are still very real. </p><p>“If you don't have a prosthetic leg or something they can see, they forget about the silent wounds,” Alfano said. </p><p>The committee is looking for sponsors to provide for the cost of the 4 day/3 night retreat, which would make the experience free for all participants to attend.</p><p>But the retreat is far from finished. The planning group will meet a number of times before September retreat plans are solidified.</p><p>“With 14 members, so much of the work has to be done by a few of us, but we're making progress,” Weiser said.</p><p>It looks like their work will pay off: the retreat has not gone unnoticed by the veteran community. </p><p>“It's a good thing, anything we can do for the lady veterans,” Hooker said. “The retreat is a long time coming.”</p>